PORVORIM: The State government has requested the Centre to relax environment laws to permit ‘entertainment zones’ with relaxed sound pollution norms in Goa, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral informed the House on Wednesday.
Replying to a calling attention notice tabled by Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye regarding apprehensions in the minds of the business owners operating clubs and restaurants in the coastal belts of the State due to the orders for ‘silent zones’ issued under the Noise Pollution Rules 2000, the Minister said that the government has already written a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), New Delhi, requesting them to allow the State to demarcate special zones as Entertainment Zones where noise decibel level restrictions could be relaxed.
Cabral said that a delegation led by CM Pramod Sawant will now go to Delhi after the Assembly session to seek relaxation from the MoEF as regards noise pollution rules. As per guidelines of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, different noise levels/standards are made applicable for Industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones specifically at turtle nesting sites.
Cabral however refrained from giving any assurance to Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar on whether the Entertainment Zones will be demarcated before the oncoming tourist season, stating that it is not a State subject.
He said that since beaches such as Mandrem and Morjim have been designated as turtle nesting sites and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Following HC directives, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) issued closure directives to the establishments found operating without the consent of the Board.
In the case of outlets with consent of the Board, it issued show cause notices as to why the consent should not be revoked, as the establishments are located within the ‘silence zone’